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About the Study Guide

You are looking at a preview of what’s in the timed Michigan ORV Ed Course.
Feel free to look around, but you’ll need to register to begin progress toward getting your Off Road Vehicle Safety Certificate.

Sand Dunes

Mount an antenna flag on your ORV. Other riders can see the flag even if you and the vehicle are hidden behind a dune.

Avoid riding on:

Vegetation

Wet sand

Look for features that indicate sharp drop-offs, such as slip faces and razorbacks. Otherwise, if you approach from the opposite side, you may not see the drop-off in time to prepare yourself or avoid it.

Be careful at midday, when obstacles may be hard to spot because they don’t cast a shadow.

Traction on sand is noticeably different than on harder, dirt surfaces. In general, you need to accelerate earlier and apply the brakes earlier than you would on normal off-road terrain.

Glossary

slip face

Lee slope of a sand dune. Characterized by an extremely steep incline opposite the prevailing winds below the crest or ridge line of a dune.